Mr. Lindsayasked the Minister of Education (1) what steps she is taking to secure that each secondary school has its individual governing body, composed of statutory and co-opted members, in order to combine local, educational and parental counsel in school governance;
(2)what steps she is taking to ensure that secondary schools have some choice in the final selection of admissions of pupils; and that headmasters, in conjunction with governors, have the right to choose their own staff;
(3)what steps she is taking to secure that headmasters of secondary schools are accorded the maximum freedom in school organisation; and that the educational standards of such schools are maintained so that boys and girls from poor homes are not at a disadvantage in competing for the limited places in higher education.
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§ Miss WilkinsonThe composition of the governing body will be set out in the instrument of government for each particular school and the functions of the local education authority, governors and the head teacher will be determined by the articles of government. As regards county secondary schools, I adhere to the views expressed in the White Paper on Principles of Government and the Model Instrument and Articles, and I have no reason to doubt that authorities generally share these views. In the case of voluntary schools, the instrument and articles will be made by my order and governors will be at liberty to submit their views after consultation with the local education authority before the order is made. I am in favour of and, indeed, I wish to encourage all reasonable freedom being allowed to schools in the matter of internal organisation, and I should strongly deprecate any attempt to depress the existing high educational standards attained by the schools.